GOOGLE AND NASA : FIND TWO NEW PLANETS

GOOGLE AND NASA : FIND TWO NEW PLANETS

Kepler 80g and Kepler 90i were discovered in Kepler -90 system

Through machine learning, University of Texas at Austin and Google together  used the data from NASA. to reach this conclusion 

The data  are collected from Kepler telescope , that was launched by NASA in 2009 as part of planet finding mission

Kepler 90i , is the eighth planet of the system and is  a rocky mass 30% larger than earth

Other than earth, eight planet network system is the one which is  found for the first time  

By analyzing thousands of data points of planets through software leads to achieving 96 % accuracy.

The software neural network studied data from about 670 stars .

According to Jessie Dotson, NAZA scientist for the Kepler telescope " As the applications of neural networks to Kepler data matures ,who knows what  might be discovered" " I am on the edge of my seat"

Machine learning is the process by which feeding of data into the computer programs that can process data through information faster than human possibilities

Kepler telescope is expected to run only up to 2019 , due to lack of fuel

SEARCH FOR LIFE ON MARS : NASA

SEARCH  FOR LIFE ON MARS : NASA

The worlds newest island Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai formed inlate 2024 or early 2015.

It rose from the sea bed due to volcanic eruption.
It was measured 1km wide 2 km long and 100m high

At remote Pacific  and is about 65 km northwest of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa.

NASA said this island can offer clues regarding the development of life on mars.
Mars had many similar volcanic islands which is surrounded by water at the time of its creation

Since it combined a wet environment with heat because of volcanic eruption, this sports may be the prime locations to look for the evidence of past life.


During the Volcanic eruption, warm sea water combined with ash to form tuff
Tuff is a  concrete like structure.


The erosion is significant and the island is expected to last between six to thirty years.

According to Jim Garvin ( Chief scientist , Goddard Space Flight Center )" Islands  like this might have worked on Mars two or three billion years ago- lakes and small seas filling depressions , persistent surface waters"

" It could have produced the conditions necessary for microbial life"

NASA's studies relating to this island was presented at a meeting by American Geophysical Union  in New Orleans



Reference :

THE HINDU DAILY , December 14. 2017

LIGHT EMITTING PLANTS NANO BIONIC

NANO BIONIC LIGHT EMITTING PLANTS

Founded by MIT Scientists ( Massachusetts Institute of Technology )  

Published : Journal Nano letters

Major step to use plants to illuminate work place, as table lamp or can even use as street light.
The light is provided by the energy released by metabolic process in plant itself.

The Scientists used three components

1. enzyme luciferase (helps fireflies to glow )  is used for this purpose.

2. Luciferase acts on luciferin casing it to emit light.

3. Co-enzyme A that remove the bi-product that inhibits this activity

These three components are packaged into nano particle carrier

Silica nano particles about ten nanometres in diameter to carry luciferase.

Larger particles of polymers PLGA  to carry luciferin .

Chitosan to carry co-enzyme A

These particles are suspended in a solution , plants are immersed in this solution and  high pressure is applied.

Through the stomata, where transpiration and exchange of gases takes place, these molecules enters the leaves.

PLGA particles along with luciferin and Chitosan along with co-enzyme A  were designed to accumulate in the extracellular space, where as luciferase accumulate in the mesophyll. 

While the PLGA particles releases luciferin , it enters the cell and reacts with luciferase and which in turn makes luciferin glow.

They illuminated a plant for about four hours with this technology

The report published in Journal Nano letters was written by the research student of MIT  Seon-Yeong Kwak 

Glowing plant project was founded by Antony Evans four years before but was dropped in lack of fund.

Film AVATAR (2009)  deals with the phenomenon of light emitting plants in a planet called PENDORA in outer space. If you watch that film , you will get a feeling which you will never forget in life.